Fellow staffers say they are hearing more calls for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to change its style on Highway 40, to begin using Interstate 64 as the preferred name.

The Editors’ Desk had a blog discussion of the issue on Dec. 16, with a poll showing 178 voters calling it Highway 40 and 39 favoring Interstate 64.

Basically, that blog item explained that the Post-Dispatch uses Highway 40 because that’s what we believe most area residents still call it. Here’s the Highway 40 entry in the Post-Dispatch Stylebook:

“Highway 40 (Interstate 64) is our choice for first reference. In some circumstances, such as in the lede or as part of a listing, the dual reference, (Interstate 64), can wait. But it needs to be in stories at some point. As for second reference, we have choices: Highway 40, Interstate 64, the highway, the interstate.”

One reader emailed us today that “nobody refers to it as Highway 40 except in old ’stuck in the past’ St Louis.” Last week, a reader called me and asked that the newspaper lead the way in changing the common usage. I noted that we had recently discussed the matter, but he suggested we revisit it again. And he followed up with the email below:

Dear Mr Parker,
Thank you for taking the time to return my call and forward the link to the blog.

I appreciate that the last time that the Post reviewed the style policy on the highway was in December. This timing had to be when the highway was open for at most 15 days. This period of time is not long enough for most travelers to see the total change in the opened section and the next section to be replaced would have at most been closed for 15 days. My point here is that once people drive on the new section and see the major changes in intersections and ramps, they will realize that this is a totally new highway. Yes, some still (and probably always will) refer to it at Highway 40 because that is all they are used to calling it, not because its the same highway.

Frankly, I discount the obviously unscientific and statistically insignificant opinion poll associated with the blog because of its scant numbers. Just because someone doesn’t take the time to blog or respond to a poll doesn’t mean that he/she isn’t interested in a subject or agrees with the running total of votes.

In summary, the reasons that I am taking the time to write to the Post on this issue and believe this change is warranted by the Post at this time are as follows:
1) As the metropolitan newspaper the Post is in a unique position to rapidly and widely influence public verbiage.
2) The federal government and the state of Missouri are spending billions of dollars to upgrade the highway between the Mississippi river and I-70 in Wentzville to Interstate standards. The 2009 section between Kingshighway and I-170 culminates the improvements that included the Vandeventer overpass, the I-270 interchange, the rebuilt portion between I-270 and the Missouri river, and the recent work between Highway 94 in St. Charles and Wentzville. (The only missing piece in this whole strech is a companion bridge over the Missouri river).
3) We need to not be a parochial community on this issue. Thousands of travelers pass through the St. Louis Metro on a daily basis and we need to be consistent in how we address the Interstate highways in this region to improve visitor’s experience here.
4) If not now, when?

Since the old section is still under construction I can easily see it being referred to by the Post as Highway 40 since this is a “to be” part of the new I-64. The Post now has the opportunity to distinguish between the two parts and begin to educate the public on the vast difference,i.e. what half-a-billion dollars buys. The style transition, i.e. using the parenthetical “Highway 40″ behind the “Interstate 64″ designation, would be the first step and coincide with the 2009 construction schedule. Once the whole new highway is open, say 3 months after the ribbon cutting, then the primary designation can be I-64 and the Highway 40 use relegated to historical perspective.

I believe that this approach will allow for a natural migration of public verbiage and minimize confusion among MoDOT officials, readers, the general public, and visitors/travelers…………. except for that miniscule group who don’t even know that the highway has been shut down!

Thank you for taking the time to read my comments and please take them into consideration at your next style policy review.

Our reviews of policy aren’t like a parole board hearing. There’s no set schedule.  It might well already be time to revisit Highway 40 vs. Interstate 64.  A blog poll isn’t scientific and isn’t going to carry the issue. Nonetheless, let me ask a different question than last time. Instead of what name do you call it, what should we be calling it?

Is it time to switch our style on Highway 40 vs. Interstate 64?

• Yes. It’s truly an interstate now. Call it I-64.
• No. It’s Highway 40. Call it that.
• Who cares? Both are fine in any order.

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